Ribes californicum, commonly called hillside gooseberry, is one of two gooseberry plants we have in the Santa Monica Mountains - Ribes speciosum is the other. Look for this plant in Upper Sycamore Canyon particularly on north-facing slopes. When there are no flowers on this plant it can be difficult to tell the species apart - look for the more numerous prickles on the Ribes speciosum. The gorgeous red (like red wine) and white flowers appear in January/February. This plant is endemic to California.

The genus Ribes contains more than 140 species of shrubs; 5 of which are found in the Santa Monica Mountains. The genus is further categorized:

• gooseberries: spiny stems are a diagnostic trait
• Currants: lack of spines or bristles on the stems.

The bright red and white flowers appear in bundle of 1 to 3 in the leaf axils (angle between leaf and stem). They are up to an inch long and bristly. The flowers are pendant (they hang down) with the five sepals reflexed back. Five white petals and five anthers surround a branched style. The seed is even more bristly than the flower, and sticky to boot.

Woody stems, fall deciduous leaves (alternate) grow on a shrub that reaches 6 to 8 feet. Leaves appear in winter before blooming. The roundish three-lobed shiny green leaves are up to an inch and a half diameter and accompanied by spines on the stem. A word about those spines: they are as sharp as they look!

Link to Calfora.net - the best source of this fascinating information!

Ribes – from the Syrian or Kurdish ribas, meaning acid-tasting, which was derived from an old Persian word.
californicum – California